Diaphragm for a breast pump and a breast pump having the diaphragm

Abstract

A diaphragm for a breast pump has a cavity with an open end for receiving a nipple of a user and a closed end. The cavity has a ridge which extends from a base of the cavity towards the center of the cavity. This ridge simulates the tongue of a baby. It may for example be designed to move when vacuum pressure is applied and released to form a peristaltic sucking motion

1 . A diaphragm for a breast pump formed of a flexible membrane, and comprising:
 a cavity having an open end for receiving a nipple of a user and a closed end, wherein the cavity comprises a ridge which extends from a base of the cavity towards the center of the cavity;   a first side flow path to a first side of the ridge sloping downwardly in use from the closed end to the open end; and   a second side flow path to an opposite second side of the ridge extending downwardly in use from the closed end to the open end.   
     
     
         2 . The diaphragm of  claim 1 , further comprising a connecting portion for connecting the diaphragm to a breast shield and/or a vacuum cover of the breast pump. 
     
     
         3 . The diaphragm of  claim 1 , comprising a milk flow passage at a bottom part of the open end of the cavity and a connector at a top part of the open end for connecting to a breast shield. 
     
     
         4 . The diaphragm of  claim 1 , wherein the ridge extends from the open end to the closed end. 
     
     
         5 . The diaphragm of  claim 1 , further comprising a second ridge which extends from the first side of cavity towards the center of the cavity, and a third ridge which extends from a second side of the cavity towards the center of the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The diaphragm of  claim 1 , wherein the shape formed by the closed path around the open end of the cavity is non-rotationally symmetric, for example with a greater radius of curvature at the bottom than at the top. 
     
     
         7 . The diaphragm of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane has a non-uniform thickness with locally thinner regions to define hinge points, for example wherein the flexible membrane has a hinge point at the back of the ridge. 
     
     
         8 . The diaphragm of  claim 2 , further comprising a valve closure element for forming part of a valve, the valve closure element extending from a bottom edge of the open end. 
     
     
         9 . The diaphragm of  claim 8 , wherein the valve closure element is for controlling a flow path to a milk container through a first part of a container opening and the diaphragm further comprises a lid for sealing a second part of the container opening. 
     
     
         10 . A breast pump comprising:
 the diaphragm of  claim 1 ;   a cover over the diaphragm to define a sealed space between them;   a breast shield to which the cover and diaphragm are coupled;   a pressure source for delivering a variable pressure to the sealed space; and   a milk collection container.   
     
     
         11 . The breast pump of  claim 10 , wherein the open end of the cavity has a top and bottom parts which connect to the breast shield, wherein the top part is set further back from the closed end in a direction parallel to a central axis of the diaphragm than the bottom part. 
     
     
         12 . The breast pump of  claim 10 , wherein the ends of the first and side flow paths at the open end of the cavity are positioned outside the area of an opening in the breast shield. 
     
     
         13 . The breast pump of  claim 10 , wherein the cover has internal ribs or the diaphragm has external ribs. 
     
     
         14 . The breast pump of  claim 10 , wherein the breast shield comprises a valve seat for supporting a valve closure element of the diaphragm to form a valve. 
     
     
         15 . The breast pump of  claim 10 , wherein the breast shield defines a rim for engaging with the container opening, with a rim opening formed internally of the rim, wherein the valve closure element is for passing through the rim opening during fitting of the diaphragm to the breast shield and the lid is for closing the rim opening after fitting of the diaphragm to the breast shield.